The Blessing "Do not go beyond what is written." The Arrogant cannot Bless

The Blessing

"Do not go beyond what is written."

The Arrogant cannot Bless

The church at Corinth had a problem.

The Apostle Paul had made many

 personal sacrifices for the church.

After Paul left Corinth, some of

the believers became arrogant.

They set themselves up as kings and went

beyond what the scriptures said and Paul taught.

These people began to live lives of “self-importance”.

They became as you would say “full of themselves”.

Arrogant people are very opinionated.

Paul does not address the arrogant as

much as he does the rest of the church.

These arrogant people were taking pride in Paul’s work.

Yet they had nothing in common with him.

The arrogant set themselves as

kings yet Paul came as a servant.

Paul mentions several contrasts

between the arrogant and himself.

“When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we

have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.”

Paul was not troubled by being

called the “scum of the earth”.

When people would curse him, he blessed them.

Paul was an effective leader because he

did not let personal attacks keep him from

being a blessing and answering kindly.

Paul did not let words, opinions, trouble him.

Paul was secure in the power of God and the Gospel.

Paul told the church to compare the power.

The power of the arrogant and opinionated.

VS

The power of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of

smooth talk, loud talk, and opinionated talk.

The power of the Kingdom of God

is demonstrated by humble servants.

Servants like Paul who made great sacrifices,

know how to lead, not dictate.

Kingdom leaders are giving blessing.

The arrogant are looking for the blessing.

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 4:6-21 NIV

 "Do not go beyond what is written."

Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

7 For who makes you different from anyone else?

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings — and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

12 We work hard with our own hands.

When we are cursed, we bless;

when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become arrogant,

as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing,

and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.

20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?